Story of a Mooncat

Jason Ricci is one of the most popular harmonica players on the planet today. Listed in almost every top ten list of players on the internet today Jason Ricci is a polarizing force always in the spot light and on the tips of critics, artists and fans tongue’s everywhere. Through two plus decades of endless touring, TV appearances, recordings and the internet Jason Ricci’s style of playing is so revolutionary and influential that there exists an entire younger generation of players imitating his music, clothes, gear, and even stage presence. Nick named “Moon Cat” (a street name he once used in Nashville and New Orleans to avoid police detection) Jason has been an almost constant force for decades in the studio, festivals, club dates and press. Love him or hate him, through performing, singing, song writing, teaching, harmonica playing and activism in the fields of L.G.B.T., mental health and addiction, it is not an overstatement that this young, white, queer, skateboarding, punk rock loving, multiple convicted felony having Moon Cat from Maine is currently changing the world through music and education.

"The two most exciting performances of the night: Green Day -The other belonged to Tom Morello, Doyle Bramhall II and Zac Brown with harmonica player Jason Ricci performing "Born in Chicago" in tribute to the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Not only did Ricci slay, but Morello played a nasty scabrous solo that raised the hairs on your arm, it was so alive."
– CNN on 2015 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions

"Someone I like a lot is Jason Ricci, He's a great player" ... "Jason Ricci is a really innovative. He's just a rocking' player, I've never met him but I really love his playing"
– Mickey Raphael

"Jason Ricci is an awesome harp player, he is someone who plays very differently then me and I love that, but people always want to compare the two of us or put him in opposition to me. He's that other harp player." – John Popper

"Jason Ricci has taken the harmonica to a new place. It's like listening to John Coltrane or something, he's really pushing the boundaries to an incredible degree. He really pisses off the blues purists even more than I do and we sort of became friends over that (laughs)He does jazz and funk and all kinds of stuff, almost like Sonny Rollins. ... You should see this guy live! He's an astounding live performer and he's unique, nobody plays like this guy. I mean technically - and I'm a harp player too - I know what he's pulling off on that instrument; he's really great."
– Walter Trout

"Ricci links the jazz mastery of Howard Levy, with the blues precision of Jerry Portnoy and hits speeds that make John Popper look like he's standing still."
– Brad Kava (Mercury News)

" I am convinced that he (Jason Ricci) along with New Jersey's Dennis Gruenling is one of the best players of his generation"
– Adam Gussow (Author and member of Satan and Adam)

"Instead of trying to be the next Little Walter via Estrin/Piazza/Wilson or blowing high-end speed harp like John Popper or Sugar Blue, Ricci relies on an individualistic style that has touches of his heroes, but more often is all Ricci."
– Art Tipaldi (writer for Blues Revue Magazine and author of Sons of the Blues)

"Thanks for loaning us a master musician" "He's a great, great player it's such a pleasure"
– Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)